SAT or ACT: Which Test Is Right for You

In my previous blog, I explored the benefits of going “test optional, and pointed out that, currently, nearly 850 institutions don’t require standardized test results as part of the admission application process.

But what if you’re a student who wants to attend a school that’s not test-optional? Or would like to be considered for merit awards? (Yes, even test-optional places typically use standardized test scores in making scholarship decisions.)

In either case, you’ve got to take the SAT or ACT as a junior and/or senior.

So, which test is the “better” one to take?

Last week, I participated in an IECA-sponsored webinar on this very topic, featuring IECA professional member Sam Rosensohn, founder and owner of College Planning Partners in Clinton, CT. Sam is a veteran educator and treasure-trove of info on standardized testing. (He even goes to China to tutor kids aspiring to attend American colleges and universities!)

Not surprisingly, Sam’s advice to his students is based on how they learn and think as individuals. Do they have good short-term memories? If so, he says this may bode well for selecting the ACT, which moves at a quicker pace and offers fewer answer options than the SAT. Are they big readers with large vocabularies? Such habits of mind typically give students an edge taking the SAT. Are they more straight-forward (rather than strategic) thinkers? Sam notes that kids who have trouble decoding content tend to do better on the ACT and those who enjoy problem-solving, including word problems in math, are likely to have a good experience with the SAT.

Clearly, there’s a lot to consider in determining which test might be the better bet for you. Unfortunately, most students don’t understand the importance of getting a handle on their learning style and test-taking strengths and weaknesses before signing up for a test. But if you take that step, you’ll be more confident in your choice and, in turn, more likely to do well. (FYI: Of the students who take both tests, one-third typically do better on the SAT, one-third do better on the ACT and one-third score equally well.)

Once you determine your preference, be sure to put your best foot forward before you actually sit for the test by prepping in advance, the earlier the better. (But even doing so senior year is better than going in cold!) And, whether you use a free, online course, sponsored by the College Board (maker of the SAT) or the ACT; sign up for a class offered by your high school or companies like Kaplan or Princeton Review or contract for customized assistance from an IECA professional, like Sam, you can increase your scores—at the very least—by being familiar with a test’s format and approach.

When choosing which standardized test to take—or college to attend—one size does not fit all!